Find out about Fairtrade with the Co-Operative

The Co-operative’s Greater Manchester North Membership Committee is inviting Rochdale residents to find out more about what the business does to support Fairtrade producer co-operatives across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Co-operative’s unique sourcing policy goes beyond delivering Fairtrade premiums to suppliers, meaning the food retailer also provides additional investment to communities across the globe to help improve sanitation, productivity, education and training.

Rebecca Forecast, The Co-operative’s International Development Advisor, will be speaking about the work done with coffee producers in Colombia and Guatemala, as well as banana growers in the Dominican Republic.

In Colombia, additional support from The Co-operative is being used by the Aguadas co-operative of coffee producers to improve storage and drying facilities, thus helping to boost productivity. In Guatemala, the Fedecocagua co-operative is being supported to achieve Fairtrade certification, enabling them to expand and access new markets. And, in the Dominican Republic the retailer is working with the Banelino co-operative to fund training and improve the quality of its bananas.

Madusudhan Roy, The Co-operative’s Membership Officer for Greater Manchester North said: “2012 has been the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives and we are taking this opportunity to really shout about how the co-operative business model helps build a fairer world.

“Unlike other major UK retailers, our business is not owned by shareholders, but by over seven million members. These members have told us they want a business committed to tackling global poverty and as a result, Fairtrade, with all the benefits it brings to disadvantaged communities, will always be an integral part of our business.”

Jan Hicks from the Rochdale Fairtrade Forum will also be speaking about what people in Rochdale can do to help.

Jan Hicks said: “Whether a vanilla grower in India or a sugar producer in Paraguay, Fairtrade enables people living in some of the world’s poorest countries to escape poverty and empower themselves and their families.

“I hope this event will encourage people to think about what they can do to support the Fairtrade initiative as even small actions, such as changing to Fairtrade coffee or chocolate, can make a real difference and help communities thousands of miles away in developing countries.”

The Co-operative continues to lead the way in Fairtrade, and with the support of its customers and members, its pioneering approach has helped make the UK the world’s largest Fairtrade market. As part of its ground-breaking Ethical Plan, the business has pledged that if products can be labelled Fairtrade, they will be, and aims to have achieved 90% of this by the end of 2013.

An evening of lively discussion around Fairtrade is being held on Thursday 29 November at Touchstones in Rochdale from 7pm.